Cannabis Dictionary: The Whole Jargon

Cannabis Dictionary: The Whole Jargon

The cannabis dictionary contains thousands of words and phrases. You’ll find over 1,200 alternate words for cannabis alone, ranging from pot, marijuana and green goddess. The cannabis industry has coined words that relate to its use and accoutrement. And let’s not forget that its illegal status for the past 80-plus years has created a clandestine language to help users evade prosecution. It’s no wonder that you’d need a dictionary to sort through the terms relating to its history, use and slang.

2 Long

Slang for a joint (cigarette rolled with cannabis instead of or possibly in addition to tobacco).

420

The police code for cannabis is 420. 4:20 refers to the time for indulging in cannabis. April 20 is considered annual cannabis day, and many users partake in cannabis at 4:20 p.m. on that day.

710

710 is code for hash oil (if you flip the numbers 710 upside-down, they look like the word ‘oil’).

1937 Marihuana Tax Act

The act that first outlawed cannabis back in the 1930s. The act was established by Harry Anslinger, who demonized cannabis and used racist language to further demonize the plant. Even though doctors testified that cannabis has many medical benefits, the act was passed. In the 1960s, the Supreme Court deemed the act unconstitutional. It was later replaced by Nixon in 1970 with the Controlled Substances Act. See: Anslinger, Harry.

Access Point

Access points are the medical marijuana versions of dispensaries. These storefronts sell medical marijuana and are also charged with complying with legal guidelines put for by the state.

Adult Use

Many cannabis users (and legal systems) allow for adult-only use of cannabis. In the U.S., this age is 21 or older. Researchers believe that underage use of cannabis can lead to brain development and health problems. Note: researchers are testing the use of cannabis and CBD oil for children who suffer from conditions, such as epilepsy.

Agent Provocateur

A person who entraps another in illegal activities, sometimes through the coercion of the police or other authorities.

Acapulco Gold

A strain of cannabis that originated in Western Mexico (Acapulco). It was popular back in the 60s.

Alice B. Toklas

Slang word used for cannabis edibles. Many users mistakenly think that it’s a slang word for smoking or “toking” because of Toklas’s last name; however, Toklas released a cookbook back in 1954 that included a recipe titled, “Hash Fudge.”

Anslinger, Harry

The drug czar (head of the U.S) Bureau of Prohibition) who, in 1937, criminalized cannabis through the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act.

Anti Cannabis Organization

Nonprofit organizations that approve the legalization of cannabis. Some of these organizations have included D.A.R.E. And Drugfree.org.

Anti Motivational Syndrome

A syndrome (that may or may not be scientifically supported) that suggests cannabis causes the user to lack motivation.

Backcross

Bag

Balm

One way of taking cannabis. Many balms contain THC and CBD; users can rub these balms right on the skin (sometimes preferably over veined areas). The skin absorbs the THC and CBD into the system. Many users prefer this method over smoking and/or ingesting cannabis through the digestive system.

Beatnik

A term sometimes used for cannabis user. This term also refers to the Beat Poets of the Beat Generation.

Bhang

BHO

Abbreviation for butane hash oil (also called dab, shatter or earwax). This oil is made from cannabis dissolved down to a butane that renders a high THC level. Essentially, it’s cannabis resin. See: Butane Hash Oil.

Black Market

A term that refers to the illegal market and sale of cannabis in areas where the drug isn’t legalized.

Blueberry Haze

A strain of cannabis that crosses blueberry and haze strains. It possibly comes from strains from Afghanistan, Mexico and Thailand.

Blunt

A cannabis cigar. Blunt smokers remove all or some of the tobacco from a cigar and replace it with cannabis.

Blunt Wrap

Bogart

A term for hogging a blunt, joint, bong or another smoking receptacle used in a smoking circle. The term comes from the actor Humphrey Bogart, who was filmed in many movies with a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth — though he didn’t inhale its smoke.

Bong

A smoking accessory. Bongs have a chamber of water, a bowl and an inhalation tube. The user lights the cannabis in the bowl and sucks air through the tube. The cannabis smoke is filtered by the water before traveling up the tube to inhalation.

Bongwater

Water that filters bong smoke. If this water isn’t emptied, it becomes brown with the previous use’s smoke.

Boston Freedom Rally

A cannabis rights rally in Boston that started in 1989.

Bowl

An accessory for smoking cannabis. This might refer to a stand-alone bowl or a bowl that is used in a bong.

Bubbler

An accessory used for smoking cannabis. Bubblers are considered a cross between a bong and a pipe.

Bud

The bud of the cannabis plant. This part is harvested for consumption because it contains more THC than other parts of the plant. It’s also a slang word for cannabis. See: Flower; Kind/Kindbud.

Budder

Slang word for cannabis concentrate.

Budtender

A retail associate who works at a cannabis dispensary. These associates are usually cannabis connoisseurs and can recommend products — especially for first-time users and novices.

Butane Hash Oil

Also called BHO (its abbreviation), butane hash oil (also called dab, shatter or earwax) is made from cannabis dissolved down to a butane that renders a high THC level. Essentially, it’s cannabis resin.

Buzz

A slang word for the psychoactive feeling you get when you ingest cannabis or other drugs.

Cannabis

Cannabis Concentrate

Cannabis Culture

A culture that thrives because of cannabis. Cannabis culture can refer to people who partake in cannabis on a regular basis, the economies, literature, art, movies, comedy, music and periodicals that surface as the result. See: Stoner Culture.

Cannabis Cup

Cannabis festival founded in Amsterdam and held in several cities throughout the world.

Cannabis Oil

Any oil derived from cannabis or one of its compounds. Many people refer to CBD oil (with or without THC) as cannabis oil.

Carb Cap

Dabbing accessory used in low-temp dabbing.

Cashed

A slang term used when all the cannabis in a joint/bowl/pipe/etc. is gone (i.e., this bowl is cashed).

Chalice

Chanvre

Charas

Charlotte’s Web

A medical cannabis extract that contains low amounts of THC and high amounts of CBD. It was developed for medical use in minors suffering from previously untreatable conditions. The name “Charlotte” refers to Charlotte Figi, a child suffering from Dravet syndrome.

Cheech & Chong

Two cannabis-loving characters, popularized by the movies “Up in Smoke” and “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie.” The characters are based on the real-life personalities of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. See: Stoner Movies.

Cheeba

A slang term for cannabis, derived from the Spanish word ‘Chiva.’ While Chiva means ‘heroin’ in Spanish (and is a total misnomer for cannabis), the term has evolved to refer to cannabis edibles that contain high amounts of THC.

Cherry

The red ember that burns at the end of a joint or in a pipe or bowl.

Chillum

A clay pipe used for smoking cannabis. These pipes have been around since the 1700s and were originally used by Hindu monks in India. They’re usually straight and resemble a cigarette.

Chronic

Slang term for cannabis that’s especially good (and effective).

Church of Cognizance

Cannabis religion church based in Arizona, founded in 1991.

Church of the Universe

Cannabis religion church based in Ontario, founded in 1969.

Clone

Cloning a cannabis plant is when you grow a new plant from a current plant’s clippings.

Cola

Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program

President Jimmy Carter founded the Compassionate Investigational Drug Program in 1978 to determine if cannabis had medicinal purposes. See: Randall, Robert.

Concentrate

Commercial extractions of cannabis that include butter, honey, oil, resin, shatter and wax.

Connoisseur

A person who is especially knowledgeable about cannabis.

Controlled Substances Act

The 1970 act that replaced the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. This act created five schedules of drugs and categorized cannabis as a Schedule I substance (no known medicinal purposes and highly addictive). See: 1937 Marihuana Tax Act.

Cotton Mouth

A term used to describe the dry mouth that often is a side effect of cannabis.

Cross

A cross is a hybrid of two strains of cannabis.

Crystals

Some cannabis plants form crystals on their buds.

Closed-Loop System

Solvent-free method of removing cannabis extracts.

Concentrate Slurry

Cannabis concentrate that hasn’t been purged.

D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. This government program was instituted in 1983. Its primary objective was to keep kids off drugs. This program was prevalent in elementary and middle school throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s. Many critics of the program claimed that it was extremely ineffective and relied on children “tattling” on their peers.

Dab

Slang for hash oil.

Dab Mat

These mats keep your surfaces safe from sap, hash and shatter spills and mishaps. Some can even protect your dab rig, too.

Dab Rig

A water pipe used for smoking hash oil.

Dabbing

Slang for smoking hash oil.

Dagga

South African word for cannabis.

Dank

Slang for extremely good cannabis. Dank is the Swedish word for moist and sticky — perfect conditions for great cannabis.

DEA

Abbreviation for Drug Enforcement Administration, the arm of the U.S. government that cracks down on drug use, sales and trafficking.

Decarboxylate

If you plan on eating cannabis, you need to activate the THC in the plant; if you don’t you won’t get any of the psychedelic benefits. Decarbing is the process of heating the bud to activate the THC before you use it in recipes.

Decriminalization

A phrase used to refer to the legalization of cannabis. Moreover, this term refers to the social decriminalization of cannabis. Many societal structures believe that cannabis use is considered dirty, unsafe and unethical.

Dewaxing

In the process of making hash, many manufacturers use solvents (such as butane). If you want a cleaner hash, you need remove all solvents from the product; this process is called dewaxing.

Diffuser

A water pipe accessory that enhances the flavor and quality of the smoke pull.

Endo

Endocannabinoid System

Ent

Slang word for cannabis that comes from “The Lord of the Rings” (the ent people lived in the trees, trees being another slang term for cannabis).

Entheogen

Psychoactive plants and compounds that are used for religious purposes, enlightenment and development. Some of these plants and substances include psilocybin (magic mushrooms), peyote, ayahuasca and kambo.

Enthusiast

Otherwise known as a cannabis enthusiast, an enthusiast is someone who is knowledgeable about cannabis and its culture.

Errl

Slang word for butane hash oil.

Ethanol

A solvent used to make hash oil.

Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church

The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church is a Rastafarian church, founded in 1975.

Exploitation/Exploitation Film

This genre of film exploits the use of cannabis and its culture. It often demonizes the drug, makes false claims and instills fear into its viewers. See: Reefer Madness.

Extract

An extract derived from the cannabis plant, usually in oil form.

Extraction Artist

Slang word for a technician trained to remove cannabis extracts from the plant.

Fatty

Slang word for a blunt — because blunts are generally wider than joints.

Feminized

Feminized cannabis plants are bred to only grow female plants (yes, this is very reminiscent of the first “Jurassic Park” movie; we’re dying to ask if you can tell the plants are female by looking up their skirts). This is done to ensure the plants have buds or flowers because the highest amounts of THC can be found in this part of the plant.

Feral

Hemp and cannabis that is grown in the wild — and not cultivated or grown in the home. These may or may not have psychoactive substances. Feral hemp is indigenous to Missouri, Indiana and Oklahoma. See: Ditch Weed.

Fire

Fire is one way of activating the THC in cannabis. In order to benefit from the psychoactive properties of THC, you need to heat it. To burn cannabis (like when you smoke it), you’ll need fire in the form of a lighter, torch or match.

First Church of Cannabis

A church founded in 2015 that uses cannabis as a means of religious experience.

Flowering Time

The amount of time a plant takes to mature enough to produce flowers or buds in optimal growing conditions. This is the amount of time one can use to estimate the harvest date.

Flower

The bud of the cannabis plant that produces the most THC. It also refers to a flower child (or hippy) that might have used cannabis as a means of achieving a higher state of being. See: Bud.

Freedom Fighter

An activist who believes all people have the right to use cannabis responsibly.

Freedom Rally

A pro-cannabis rally or demonstration.

Fresh Frozen

Hash that comes from cannabis bud that is frozen immediately after the harvest.

Full Melt Clear Dome

Slang term for the best grade of hash.

Ganja

Hindi word for cannabis.

Gastown Riots

A 1971 riot instigated by police attacking a peaceful smoke-in (peaceful protest of anti-cannabis laws) in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Gateway Drug

“Softer” drugs that scientists believe might lead to “harder” drug use. Some researchers believe that a person who might not otherwise partake in Schedule I drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, are more likely to do so after partaking in cannabis.

Germination

The process of transplanting readying cannabis seeds for planting.

Gift Economy

In regard to cannabis, the gift economy allows citizens to exchange cannabis for non-monetary resources. In cities (such as Washington, D.C.) where cannabis consumption is legal, but its sale is illegal, residents may gift cannabis and plants without legal recourse.

Glass

Paraphernalia for consuming cannabis, made from glass (such as bongs and pipes), is simply called, ‘glass.’

Global Marijuana March

The Global Marijuana March is a cannabis rights movement and rally that started in 1999. It takes place on the first Saturday in May in nearly 1,000 cities all over the world.

Gorilla Glue

A strain of cannabis that is a cross between several ‘gorilla glue’ strains.

Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival

The longest-running cannabis rights festival in the U.S. is the Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival. It commemorates the date of a cannabis rights rally in 1971 to protest local Dana Beal’s cannabis charges.

Green Closet

People who must secretly partake in cannabis (because of religious beliefs, job conflicts or social stigmas) are considered to be in the green closet.

Green Out

Slang term for someone who experiences a ‘bad trip’ after partaking in cannabis.

Grinder

A cannabis accessory for grinding cannabis bud that the user will roll into a joint or blunt. Grinders are also used for cannabis cooking and edibles.

Half

Measurement of cannabis that equates to half an ounce.

Hand-Whipping

The process of manually whipping hash wax.

Hanf

A German word for Cannabis.

Hanfparade

The annual cannabis rights festival held in Germany.

Hash/Hasish

Cannabis resin.

Hash Bash

The annual cannabis rights rally held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It began in 1972.

Hash Pipe

A pipe from which hash is smoked.

Haze

A strain of cannabis.

Head Shop

A retail store that sells cannabis paraphernalia. Note: head shops are only legal if their products are designed for smoking tobacco in addition to cannabis (if located in an area where cannabis isn’t yet legal).

Heat Cleaning

The process of decarbing cannabis to activate the THC. See: Decarboxylate.

Heirloom

Cannabis strains that have been around for decades, sort of the ‘pure-bred’ version of cannabis.

Hemp

The English name for the cannabis plant.

Hemp for Victory

A video released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1942 that encouraged farmers to grow hemp for the war effort.

Hemp Hurds

The inside of the hemp stalk (often called ‘hemp wood’).

Hemp Jewelry

Jewelry made of hemp fibers.

Hemp Juice

The juice of the hemp plant (non-psychoactive).

Hemp Milk

Milk extracted from hemp seeds, extracted in a similar process to milking peanuts, flax and other nuts and seeds.

Hemp Oil

Oil from cannabis seeds (non-psychoactive) used for skin and beauty products.

Hydro

Hydrocarbon Extractions

A cannabis extraction that uses butane to extract the THC from the plant.

Hydroponics

Cannabis grown in a liquid instead of soil. Many growers believe that they have more control over the plant’s nutritional intake using hydroponics instead of soil.

ICE

A strain of cannabis that’s a cross between Afghan, Northern Lights and Skunk.

Ice Wax

Hash that is made using ice and water to separate the trichomes from the cannabis plant. The end result is often referred to as ‘bubble hash.’

Indian Hemp Drugs Commission

A study completed in 1894 that concluded cannabis was safe for moderate consumption and may have medicinal benefits.

Indica

A strain of cannabis; other strains include sativa and ruderalis.

Industrial Hemp

Hemp products made from the cannabis plant that are used for textiles, concrete, wood alternatives and other materials. These products aren’t for consumption and don’t have psychoactive properties.

Ingest

One way to absorb cannabis through the digestive system. Other ways might include topical creams, tinctures and patches.

Inhale

Another way to absorb cannabis — yet instead of ingesting the cannabis through the digestive tract, the user absorbs it into the bloodstream through the lungs.

Intoxicating

Cannabis products that contain THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Also known as rubbing alcohol. This is needed to make cannabis extractions.

Jagged

Slang for the psychoactive state cannabis use creates.

Jay

Slang term for a joint.

Jelly Hash

Type of hash that has high levels of THC.

John Sinclair Freedom Rally

Another name for the cannabis rights rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan. See: Sinclair, John.

Joint

Slang word for a cannabis cigarette.

Joint Tip

Accessory for joints that filter out cannabis particles.

Just Say No

Reagan-era term used by the government in the 1980s War on Drugs to dissuade kids from using cannabis. See: War on Drugs.

Kief

Hashish or hashish-tobacco cakes.

Kind/Kindbud

Slang term for cannabis and cannabis buds.

Kush

Cannabis that was originally cultivated in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The word has become a slang term used for all cannabis.

La Guardia Committee

1944 report that deemed cannabis wasn’t the cause of major crimes and challenged its status as a “gateway drug.” It was named after NYC mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia, who assembled a committee to study cannabis’s effects.

Landrace

A cannabis plant from another region (such as Afghanistan, China, Thailand or the South Pacific) that adapts to its new location (for example, the U.S.).

LEAP

Abbreviation for Law Enforcement Action Partnership, LEAP is a cannabis rights group that was formed by retired law enforcement officers.

Leary v. United States

1969 U.S. Supreme Court Ruling that led to repealing the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. The act was replaced by the Controlled Substances Act.

Legalization

The process of making the use and sale of cannabis legal.

Legalize It

Cannabis culture anthem released in 1975 by Peter Tosh.

Lid

A measurable quantity of cannabis that equates to about 1.5 ounces. It’s called such because that amount (ideally) fills the lid of a shoe box.

Live Resin

Cannabis that isn’t dried. Instead, it’s frozen to keep it fresh.

Licensed Facility

A facility that is licensed to grow, sell or distribute cannabis by the state.

Lotion

Cannabis is often found in lotion form. The user simply spreads a small amount of the lotion on the skin (preferably over a veined area). The skin absorbs the cannabis into the blood system.

Low-Temp Dab

Dab that is specifically manufactured to burn at lower temperatures. See: Nail.

Ma

Cantonese word for cannabis.

Magic Brownie

A cannabis edible; a brownie that’s baked with cannabis butter.

Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

A law that establishes minimum sentencing for a specific crime — regardless of the circumstances. Mandatory minimum sentencing in terms of cannabis is considered part of the reason why prisons are so full in the U.S.

Marihuana

Slang word for cannabis — possibly from the Spanish word for marijuana.

Marijuana

Slang word for cannabis; the word was used by Harry Anslinger while building the case for his Marihuana Tax Act in 1937; some feel it demonizes cannabis. See: 1937 Marihuana Tax Act.

Marinol

Mary Jane

Slang word for cannabis; some think it was derived from the word “marijuana” and is a play on words.

Medical Marijuana

Marijuana that’s legal in some countries and states for medical purposes. To partake, the user must have a medical marijuana card prescribed by a doctor.

Medicated

A term used for cannabis products that are used for medicinal purposes; slang word for someone who is feeling the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Micron Grade

The classification of a

bag that collects trichomes when making water hash.

Micron Screen

Screens used to separate trichomes when making solvent-free hash.

MIP

Abbreviation for marijuana-infused products, such as edibles and tinctures. You might see labeling that says a magic brownie is ‘MIP.”

Mota

Slang word for cannabis in Spanish.

Mother

A slang word that refers to ‘mother plant’ — the plant which many cannabis offspring are cut from.

Munchies

A side effect of cannabis is an increased appetite. Many users call this increased appetite ‘the munchies” because they feel the need to incessantly snack.

Narc

Slang for an undercover police officer (as in ‘narcos’).

Nail

A dab or rig accessory that heats the hash in order for the user to inhale the vapor.

Nectar

Hash that is made from cannabis flower instead of the trimmings.

New Jim Crow

Book by Michelle Alexander, written in 2010, detailing how the incarceration of men of color can be attributed to the War on Drugs — and non-violent crimes, such as the sale and use of cannabis.

Nixon, Richard

U.S. president who declared War on Drugs in 1969 and signed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, deeming cannabis a Schedule I drug with no medicinal benefits.

Non-Intoxicating

A way to describe non-psychoactive cannabis products, such as CBD. See: Non-Psychoactive.

Non-Psychoactive

Cannabis substances that don’t have psychoactive properties. To partake in psychoactive benefits, the user must inhale or ingest activated THC. Many cannabis products don’t contain THC, so they aren’t considered psychoactive.

Nug

Slang word for cannabis bud that is considered a high-quality bud.

Nug-Run

Slang term for going out to buy cannabis (similar to a cigarette run).

OG

Several strains of cannabis from the West Coast of the U.S. The original OG (so we guess you could call it the OOG) was Ocean Grown Kush, cultivated in Southern California.

Oil

Slang term for cannabis resin (hash or hashish). Also, the oil extracted from cannabis plants and seeds.

One Hitter

A pipe that holds only a small amount (or one hit) of cannabis.

Operation Green Merchant

DEA investigation that targeted advertisers in High Times magazine for the illegal sale of cannabis. See: High Times.

Operation Pipe Dreams

DEA investigation that targeted head shops and cost over $12 million. Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong) was sentenced to nine months in prison after a raid. See: Cheech and Chong and Operation Green Merchant.

Ounce

Weight measurement for cannabis; cannabis is almost always weighed in ounces.

Open Blasting

A term for the process of making hash with solvents.

Pakalolo

Hawaiian slang word for cannabis.

Paraphernalia

A term for accessories used with cannabis or having to do with the sale or transport of cannabis. This word sometimes has negative connotations when it comes to cannabis.

Paraquat

Herbicide banned in Europe; this contaminant was used during the 1970s to destroy cannabis crops in the U.S. and Mexico and was found in some cannabis as a result. Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s disease.

Parchment

Parchment paper is an inexpensive way to preserve extractions, such as shatter. Wrapping shatter in parchment paper and sealing it in an airtight container will keep it from drying out and prevent too much moisture.

Patch

Patches are one topical way of partaking in cannabis and/or CBD. The user simply places the cannabis or CBD patch on a veined area of the skin. The skin then absorbs the CBD or THC into the bloodstream. This is a great alternative to those who don’t want to smoke or ingest cannabis through the digestive system.

Pelican Case

A cannabis accessory case used for carrying fragile dab rigs.

Percolator

The name for a water pipe’s added water chamber for extra filtration.

Personal Use

The term used for the amount of cannabis without intent to sell. Many states that have legalized the use of cannabis use this term to restrict the sale of the drug — without denying residents the ability to use, gift (and possibly grow) cannabis.

Phenotype

The physical characteristics of the plant, such as its height, color, branch reach and leaves. Growers use these indicators to determine if a plant is healthy.

Pinner

Slang word for a very thin joint that doesn’t contain much cannabis.

Pistil

Small, hair-thin pistons that grow out of a plant’s flowers. The pistil is the part of the plant that is pollinated (sort of the plant’s sexual organs).

Pot

Slang term for cannabis — probably derived from the word “Potiguaya” or the Spanish word for cannabis. See: Potiguaya.

Pothead

Slang term for someone who uses cannabis on a regular basis. The term was originally derogatory and was used by cannabis critics. Now, the cannabis community has “taken back” the term to diffuse some of the negative connotations.

Potiguaya

PPM

Similar to how growers keep an eye on pH levels of a plant, they watch the number of minerals and soluble materials or the parts per million (PPM).

Pre-Roll

A slang word for a joint or blunt that is pre-rolled with cannabis. Pre-rolls weren’t as prevalent on the black market, but they are often available in legal dispensaries.

Pressed Hash

A process of making hash that utilizes pressure and heat.

Prodo Glass

Abbreviation for production glass, prodo glass is an accessory for smoking cannabis.

Prohibition

The legal ban of the sale, trade and consumption of a substance to prevent people from using the substance. Similar to the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, many scholars believe the prohibition of cannabis doesn’t prevent its use — and instead harbors a black market for the drug.

Propaganda

The distribution of information based on fear. Anti-cannabis propaganda was propagated to instill fear into the minds of the middle and upper classes in the 1930s — just prior to the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act.

Reeferphobia

The condition where someone has an aversion to cannabis, possibly based on negative associations with the drug, propagated by anti-cannabis ideals, societal stigmas and childhood conditioning.

Reform

“To put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses.” – Merriam-Webster.

Refugee

Someone who moves from an area where cannabis isn’t legal for recreational or medicinal purposes to an area where it is legal. Many parents of children seeking medical marijuana seek refuge in Colorado, where cannabis is widely used.

Regs

Slang word for regulation and cannabis regulation.

Religious Use

Cannabis is used in some churches and religions as a way of killing the ego so the user may experience a closer connection to God and the spirit.

Resin

A sticky substance that growers remove from a cannabis plant; it can be smoked in a joint just like cannabis bud.

Responsible Use

Just as someone partaking in alcohol would need to consume the beverage responsibly, cannabis users must use responsibly. Some ways to use responsibly include not distributing cannabis to minors, never driving under the influence and abstaining from overindulgence.

San Marcos Seven

Sap

Sap is another form of cannabis concentrate, similar to hash or wax. It’s called sap because it stays a liquid and looks very similar to tree sap.

Sativa

A strain of cannabis. The three strains of cannabis include Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis.

Schedule I

The classification of drugs that are considered highly dangerous and possess no medicinal value, according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This act was put into place by Richard Nixon and replaced the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act — as it was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Schwag

Slang word for low-grade cannabis.

Scromiting

Otherwise known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, scromiting is a rare medical condition that causes abdominal pain as the result of heavy cannabis use. See: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis.

Seasoning

The process of adding flavor to a dab nail to enhance the quality of the cannabis extract.

Seattle Hempfest

A pro-cannabis annual festival that takes place in Seattle (go figure). This is the largest festival of its kind in the world. The festival has been held each year since 1991.

Seed-to-Sale Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates that are grown, harvested and extracted by one manufacturer.

Seedling

A young plant that was raised from a seed; the opposite of a cutting.

Sensimilla

Cannabis with high concentrates of THC that does not contain seeds.

Sesh

Abbreviation for ‘session,’ a slang word for cannabis smoking session or cannabis party.

Session

Slang word for a cannabis party or cannabis smoke session.

Shadow Economy

Another phrase that refers to the black-market economy that was created by the ban of cannabis (and other illegal drugs) in the U.S. and other countries.

Shatter

Shisha

The Arabic word for a hookah water pipe and the tobacco cake often smoked in the pipe. See: Hookah.

Shotgunning

Similar to shotgunning alcohol (when you chug a whole beer through a hole in the bottom of the can), shotgunning cannabis is when you blow cannabis smoke into someone else’s face. Sometimes it’s when a person puts a joint into their mouth cherry-side in and blows the smoke backward into someone else’s mouth.

Sinclair, John

John Sinclair was an activist and poet, specializing in jazz poetry. He also founded the White Panther Party, an anti-racism group. He was arrested in 1969 for possession of cannabis and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released eight years early — thanks to peaceful protests. The annual freedom rally in Ann Arbor was named after him and started to encourage his early release. See: Hash Bash.

Skunk

Cannabis strain that has a strong odor; another word for cannabis that has gone bad; slang term for good cannabis.

Slab

One large piece of hash.

Smoke-In

A phrase for first cannabis rights demonstrations and peaceful protests. These ‘smoke-ins’ eventually evolved into the pro-cannabis festivals and protests.

Smoking

One way to absorb cannabis into the body and bloodstream is to smoke the buds of the plant (or the resin as in hashish).

Smurfing

The act of purchasing the maximum amount of cannabis from various dispensaries and access points to sell or distribute.

Solvent

Usually referring to butane, solvents were often needed to make hash or BHO. See: BHO.

Solvent-Free

These days, most hash manufacturers bypass butane when making hash these days. Instead, they rub cannabis over a

screen to produce kief and then transform the kief into hash.

Solvent Recovery

The process of recycling solvents used in making hash.

Solventless Wax

Similar to solvent-free hash, solventless wax is simply wax made without the use of solvents, such as butane.

Sour Diesel

A strain of cannabis that is a cross between Chemdawg 91 and Super Skunk strains. It’s lauded for its ability to aid in stress relief and curb depression.

Space Cake

Slang term for edible cannabis (such as a magic brownie or cookie). See: Magic Brownie.

Spliff

Spray

Stash

Stash Box

The box where you keep your cannabis stash.

Stoned

Slang term for the psychoactive state a person experiences while partaking in cannabis. See: High.

Stoner

Slang term for someone who regularly partakes in cannabis. Also, stoner can refer to a subset of cannabis culture — as in a stoner movie. The term was originally derogatory, but cannabis culture “reclaimed” the word, and now it has a

positive connotation.

Stoner Bashing

The aggressive act of condemning or speaking out against stoner and cannabis culture.

Stoner Culture

The counterculture that celebrates cannabis. Types of stoner culture could include homages, such as movies (“Up in Smoke”), songs, works of art and poems.

Stoner Film

Stoner Rights

The right of a person to partake in cannabis, despite its illegal status in most of the U.S. and other countries. Cannabis activists believe that cannabis is a human right.

Strain

A type of cannabis plant/bud. Growers often cross-pollinate different cannabis strains to extract the benefits of various strains.

Sublingual

A form of partaking in cannabis that is similar to a tincture. Instead of placing a tincture underneath the tongue, the user places decarboxylated cannabis (heat-activated THC) under the tongue to absorb the THC through the skin and veins.

Super-Critical Extractor

A Co2 extractor that uses a solvent to remove cannabis extracts from the plant.

Tax and Regulate

The monetary system that allows certain states (and possibly someday the U.S. government) to make money off the sale of cannabis. The estimated value of the cannabis black market is over 1 billion, so some lawmakers believe in taxing the industry — as long as users are going to buy, the government might as well make money from it.

Tea Party

Terpene

Tetrahydrocannabinol

Otherwise known as THC, tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive substance in cannabis. Cannabis’s THC must be activated by heat for its psychoactive properties to work. See: THC.

Thai Stick

A strain of cannabis grown in Thailand that grows on a trellis.

THC

Otherwise known as tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the abbreviation for the psychoactive substance in cannabis. Cannabis’s THC must be activated by heat for its psychoactive properties to work. See: Tetrahydrocannabinol.

THC Ministry

Not to be confused with the Ministry of Magic, the THC Ministry is another church that uses cannabis as a means of spiritual enlightenment. The THC ministry was formed in Hawaii.

This is Your Brain on Drugs

A 1980s-era commercial that depicted a person cracking an egg into a hot skillet. The narrator declared “This is your brain,” when an egg was held up to the camera. After the egg went into the skillet, the narrator continued, “This is your brain on drugs; any questions?” The commercial was considered anti-cannabis and is often referenced in conjunction with the Regan-era War on Drugs. The commercial could have been considered a success by some (it’s memorable). Yet many TV shows and comedians have poked fun at the commercial over the years. See: War on Drugs; D.A.R.E.

Three-Chambered Grinder

A fancy cannabis grinder that collects cannabis flowers and kief. The grinder is called ‘three-chambered’ because it has three chambers — one each for flowers and kief and a third for grinding.

Three-Strikes Law

A Bush-era law that enforces a life-sentence for a person who has been convicted of three felonies. This law is partially the reason that many people are serving life sentences for cannabis-related crimes. The racial inequality of the penal system is often attributed to Three Strikes You’re Out.

Tincture

A means of partaking in cannabis or CBD is via a tincture. This is cannabis or CBD extract that the user places under the tongue with a droplet. The skin under the tongue absorbs the extract and the extract hits the blood system almost immediately.

Toke

Slang word for inhaling a hit of cannabis smoke; also slang for the act of smoking cannabis.

Toker

A person who regularly partakes in cannabis. The word was immortalized the Steve Miller Band in the lyrics, “I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker,” in the song “Space Cowboy.”

Topical

A means of partaking in cannabis is by way of a topical cream or patch. The skin is the largest organ in the body and is extremely absorbent. Many cannabis users choose to use topical creams and patches instead of smoking or ingesting cannabis through the digestive system.

Transdermal

The means of absorbing cannabis through the skin in patch or cream form. See: Topical.

Trees

Slang word for cannabis because the buds look like tiny trees.

Trichome

The chemical makeup of the cannabis plant that has the majority of THC in the bud. Small pistil-like glands that contain the THC.

Trim

A cannabis plant’s buds must be trimmed after the harvest; doing this removes the excess twigs and leaves that buyers won’t want to purchase with the bud.

Trim-Run

A concentrate that is extracted from the leaves of the cannabis plant instead of the bud of the plant. Many connoisseurs consider this to be an inferior product to bud concentrate. See: Nug-Run.

Trimmigrant

Slang word for a cannabis industry migrant worker. The word trimmigrant comes from the fact that these workers are almost always immigrants and are usually employed trimming the buds of the plant.

Vacuum Oven

Vacuum Purge

During the shatter-making process, the vacuum purge is the stage in which solvent is extracted through a vacuum oven. See: Vacuum Oven.

Vape

A means of partaking cannabis, usually through a vape pen. The pen or electronic cigarette is loaded with cannabis oil. A heating element heats the oil and produces vapor, which the user smokes. Vape pens are possible because the user can simply take only one hit without losing the quality of the remaining oil.

Vaporization

Vaporizer

Vegetative Stage

The cannabis plant stage leading up to the flowering and the harvest. While alive, cannabis plants spend most of their lifetimes in this stage.

Wake and Bake

Slang term for someone who regularly wakes up in the morning and partakes in cannabis. The term has some negative connotations and is often used when determining if someone has a cannabis dependence (i.e., for someone to get through the day the person must consume cannabis first thing in the morning).

War on Drugs

Richard Nixon declared “War on Drugs” in the 1960s. Some of the tactics in his War on Drugs included creating the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 and creating the scheduling system that classified certain drugs as highly addictive, dangerous and without any known medical benefits. This “war” was continued by Ronald and Nancy Reagan in the 1980s. See: Schedule I; Controlled Substances Act.

Washing Machine

Some home hash makers choose to soak their cannabis in the washing machine. See: Water Hash.

Water Hash

A method for making homemade has with mesh bags, ice and water. This method is preferred for home hash enthusiasts because the quality is almost a good as BHO and the washing method is much safer than BHO.

Wax

A form of cannabis concentrate that has a waxy texture.

Weed

Slang word for cannabis. It grows “like a weed” and kind of looks like one too.

White Widow

A strain of cannabis that’s a combination of Brazilian sativa and Indian indica.

Wootton Report

The 1968 report that found the criminalization of cannabis wasn’t working in the U.K and was inappropriate for small amounts of the drug. The country eventually decriminalized cannabis in small amounts in the 1970s.

X-Ray Eyed

Slang term for someone who is feeling the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Since cannabis makes your eyes turn red, it’s considered someone has X-ray eyes.

Youth International Party

A political and activist party that believes in the legalization of cannabis. The group organized many of the smoke-ins of the 1960s and 1970s that eventually transformed into annual events. See: Yippie; Smoke-In.

Zero Tolerance

A punishment system that considers any activity that breaks a specific rule will result in the same punishment — often (in the case of the U.S. school system) expulsion or suspension. This system is often criticized for being ineffective.

Zip

Slang word for once ounce of cannabis — or the amount that will fill up a zip-close bag.

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West Coast Cannabis tours is a fully licensed and legal cannabis focused tour company dedicated to delivering first-class customer service. Our mission is to promote the responsible use of cannabis through canna curated experiences and higher education. We hope to play a role in breaking stereotypes by sparking a sophisticated dialogue regarding marijuana and fostering change in society. As good stewards of the industry, our aim is to advance cannabis acceptance ONE TOUR at a time.